Oesterbanke

[Strepie]

My brother and I decided to venture to this spot during our holiday at Buffelsbaai. Quite a walk from the backpackers. 16km in total(we measured it with a gps) but very scenic.

This must be one of the best fishing spots for edibles in SA due to the fact that it is not fished very often. We got smashed by big edibles which we suspect could be musclecrackers or very large galjoen. I got burned off 5 times on the reefs and my brother about 8 times. We tried bigger leaders,etc. but it did not help. It was still a very enjoyable day and I will tackle the long walk again.

Ultima Red & Black Ice also proved to be an excellent line. I would loose sinkers,hooks and once my leader snapped but the line never broke!. I can just imagine how good the more expensive versions must be.

To the regulars visiting Oesterbanke - from which side do you normally go there? Is there a shorter,easier walk or not?

 

[Brolloks]

As a matter of interest, is Oeterbanke to the right (Sedgefield) of left (Knysna) from the Backpackers at Buffelsbay.

 

[Strepie]

It is to the right(Sedgefield way) from the backpackers.
Just follow the beach until you get to the banks. When you see a wooden staircase going up the dune with a signpost that is lying down that says "Goukamma" you know you are at the right place. Took us about 4 hrs in total to cover the distance there and back due to the sand being very loose even on low tide.

 

[Strepie]

If it is possible to park at Groenvlei and walk from Sedgefield's side it should should be an easier walk I presume. Will try and check it out on Google Earth.

 

[Psy]

Strepie

You can access from both sides. Easiest may be from Buffels side but accessible also through the Parks Board camping / picnic area - before one enters into Buffels Bay.

(I believe it was closed this season?) Once you are in the Parke raad area, (check in with them) - make your way upstream and find canoes and oars to cross the river to a footpath which leads one to the banks and freedom!!

From Groenvlei side, you can walk as well, sometimes better offering more holes for dipping hooks. Carefull parking cars there...heard of windsceens smashed and radios being removed.

Remember - no sleeping/overnighting on the beach. You have to clear out at sunset! Rules of the Reserve.

 

[Strepie]

Thanks Psy. We did the walk from Buffels this holiday but after looking at a reserve map saw that to reach it from Groenvlei seems to be a lot closer. We were not sure about the walk though. When we walked back we followed the footpath behind the dunes until we came to the river. My brother was not sure if the canoes were still there so we opted to go back to the beach and cut across the river mouth until we reached the tar road where my father picked us up. The first 2 beers went down like cooldrink after that walk! It surely is a privilege to fish an area like that and I will definitely tackle that walk again.

 

[Strepie]

Psy, can you attach the doc as a pdf. It seems to be broken. Thanks!

 

[Brolloks]

Strepie wrote:

If it is possible to park at Groenvlei and walk from Sedgefield's side it should should be an easier walk I presume. Will try and check it out on Google Earth.

Parking is at 34" 02' 44.47"S ; 22" 50' 14.07"E.  Have parked there a number of times without any incident.  However if it rains the road down could be difficult to navigate in a normal car.

 

[Strepie]

Brolloks wrote:

Strepie wrote:

If it is possible to park at Groenvlei and walk from Sedgefield's side it should should be an easier walk I presume. Will try and check it out on Google Earth.

Parking is at 34" 02' 44.47"S ; 22" 50' 14.07"E.  Have parked there a number of times without any incident.  However if it rains the road down could be difficult to navigate in a normal car.

Thanks Brolloks! How is the walk from that side?

 

[Brolloks]

I have only walked as far as Platbankies (34"03'00.50"S; 22"51'16.06"E), which is about 1.8km from the Groenvlei parking spot.  There are no major obstacles to cross e.g. rivers.  It is loose sea/dune sand if you walk above the high water mark, but if you time it right and you can stay in-between the high and low water mark, where the sand is a bit fimer, the going is good. 

I do not know where Oesterbanke is (except from what I have read in your previous posts), but by using the Google Earth ruler tool and measuring roughly 8km from Buffels Bay it cannot be much further on from Platbankies. 

We were there towards the end of November 2009, but the currents made it impossible to fish as it would wash your 6oz Gapnel sinker, within 5 minutes, back onto the beach.

 

[Strepie]

Thanks Brolloks. Have a look at the attached brochure which will give you an indication of where it is. We walked all the way from the Rowwehoek parking(backpackers).

 

[TOE 007]

I HAVE FISHED THERE PLENTY OF TIMES , AND KNOW THE AREA RATHER WELL , i also know the backpackers owners , Riaan , very nice guy ,we have caght large Kobs on luress of the surf , its one of the best place to fish , I also have a bud whos dad has got a farm , that bordering on the reserve , hes got a gate that you can easily access far off holes , without much of walk !!

skree maar as ek nog kan help met iets , ek was nie daar die jaar nie , maar van my 'kollegas ' was well ek het n paar mooi kobs gekry , Asook n paar krakers , maar dit was oppie punt naby fishbomah , die punt naby die karavaan park het nie regtig produce nie , maar Appels n local van buffelskop het n bull kraker gevang 2 dae voor krismis .

Moenie vergeet van die stuk tussen diee baai en brenton nie , daars sulke plat bankies met diewater sloepe naby !
Daars ook GROOT steenies , baarman , en soos jy self gese het groot galjoen , dis half n pity want in die winter surf ons net daar want die WATER KAN GROOT RAAK !

 

[TOE 007]

oom mike , n r and s ledgend , kom van sedgefield se kant af , hy vang gereeld
groot krakers daarso

 

[Strepie]

Dankie Toe, Ons het gehoor van die bul kraker wat gevang is maar hom nie gesien nie. Ek & my broer het daai punt by die karavaanpark platgevang maar net klein vissies gekry. My broer het 'n +_2kg kraker wat hy weer laat gaan het gevang op die klippe wat regoor die 1ste huis is as jy Buffelsbaai inkom. Ons het ook 'n paar keer die riwwe daar by die backpackers getrotseer maar nie iets gekry nie.

Ek sal jou onthou as ek weer daai kant toe gaan vir daai naby parkering! LOL

 

[TOE 007]

no problems !!!

Niks Elf eers by die slip nie ??? Die karavaanpark aan die ooste kant kan jy maar los , , net verby daai rots poel oppie punt is daai diep sloep , swemdeur hom , dan sal jy oppie plek wees , moenie gaan as die see groot is nie !!

voor die wildside backpackers , daai punte daar uit is baie nice , kyk jy moet maar bietjie swem waar nodig , as jy weet wat ek se , maar daarso het ek al 3 goeie , 3 krakers almal oor 5 kgs grootste was 11kgs , katte en krappe! As jy weer daar is gaan na buffels kop daar 2 locals waar ons mee die area geod leer ken het , Eben en Appels ,hulle sal jou wys , vat net pakkie siggarets , hulle is ook die shabeen eienaars ! moenie vergeet in die baai , as die wind op is , is daar HUGE raggies !
Is die Rivier oop ???
STYWWE LYNE:fishn:fishn

 

[Strepie]

Niks elf by die slip nie. Ons het deurgeswem soos jy genoem maar aan die ander kant was dit ook doodstil.

Wat ons gepla het die heel vakansie is dat meeste van die tyd daar nie groot deinings was nie maar boeta het die water getrek! Het 'n paar gooie op sand na die riviermond se kant toe gemaak maar 'n 8oz sliding grab wou nie eers sit nie!

Die rivier was nog toe, toe ons daar weg is.